By: Ted Dabrowski and John Klingner
Illinois has many deep, structural issues that continue to be ignored by those in power. Among them is one that impacts people’s lives deeply – Illinois’ lack of job creation.
A Wirepoints review of employment growth across the 50 states shows Illinois’ economy hasn’t created any net new employment in more than 20 years. In fact, Illinois has lost 106,697 net jobs since 2000, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Those job losses put Illinois third-last in the country when comparing employment in 2022 vs. employment in 2000. Only Michigan, which suffered massive auto industry losses during the Great Recession, and Mississippi fared worse than Illinois.
In contrast, a state like Florida grew its employment rolls by 2.9 million, or 40 percent. Texas has grown employment by over 4 million, the most in the country.
Illinois stands out even among its neighbors, which many might expect to fare poorly as Midwestern states. But aside from Michigan, all created jobs. Missouri, Wisconsin, Kentucky and Iowa all increased employment by more than 100,000 each. Indiana led Illinois’ neighbors with an increase in employment of more than 250,000, or a growth of 9 percent.
Compared to the nation’s five largest states (Illinois only recently fell to the 6th-largest state in the country), Illinois’ problems stand out even more. Struggling states like New York and Pennsylvania managed to increase employment by 4 to 6 percent since 2000.
Texas and Florida, meanwhile, blow everyone else out of the water with employment growth of around 40 percent. Their stellar numbers are a function of their focus on pro-business, pro-growth policies.
Employment growth in the short term
With Gov. Pritzker’s big win this November, it’s worthwhile to see how well employment has fared under his tenure. As the numbers show, the negative trend has continued.
Illinois failed to create any net new jobs and in fact employment is down by 156,000 compared to when the governor took office in January 2019.
Illinois ranks 44th in the nation with worse numbers than all of its neighbors – including Michigan.
A problem of jobs
Wirepoints recently reported that Illinois’ unemployment rate was the nation’s highest for the second month in a row in October. Compared to Illinois’ 4.6 percent rate, all of its neighbors are faring far better – most notably Wisconsin, Indiana, Iowa and Missouri where unemployment rates are 1 to 2 percentage points lower.
Illinois’ status as the extreme outlier in unemployment makes sense considering just how poor it’s been at creating employment over the last several years and even decades.
The nation’s highest property taxes, crippling pension debts, the increased powers of government unions, constantly expanding red tape, chronic corruption and an increasing outflow of key companies and residents all make the creation of jobs impossible.
Read more from Wirepoints:
- New release: Illinois continues to have the worst unemployment rate in the nation
- Illinois adds most manufacturing jobs nationally in July, but increase does little to recoup the 300,000 manufacturing jobs still missing
- What Pritzker said vs. what Pritzker should have said about new Illinois budget projections
- Chicago’s progressive agenda has been destructive for black communities
A set of state lawmakers want to extend CPS’ current school closing moratorium to February 1, 2027 – the same year CPS is set to transition to a fully-elected school board. That means schools like Manley High School, with capacity for more than 1,000 students but enrollment of just 78, can’t be closed for anther three years. The school spends $45,000 per student, but just 2.4% of students read at grade level.
Hopefully, all media will get the message, in Illinois, too.
Ted joined Tom Miller of WJPF to talk about Illinois’ highest-in-the-nation property taxes, why lawmakers don’t want to touch the tax’s cost drivers, just how much Illinoisans’ tax burden has grown over the decades, why Gov. Pritzker failed to meet his promise to reform property taxes, and more.
The state and every city and county economic development department should be eliminated. They have failed entirely.
Selling my in state assets next spring. Getting the kids set up at college, then I’m out. I’ll be taking my business and all of my wealth somewhere else. Too bad. I love my home state but you can’t reason with people who don’t care about reality or consequences. Like the Iron lady once said, socialism only works until they run out of other people’s money.
You are hardly the first. The numbers of people leaving keep going up, up and AWAY.
The people leaving make a hand jester as they leave.
Got out of illinois 30 years ago the only thing I miss are the hot dogs
What about the Italian beef semi-soaked in juice and all kinds of pizza Or Peppo’s subs with the “Guts”
https://www.peppossubs.com/
THANK GOD we reelected Jabba Hog Jowls Pritzker to keep us moving in the right direction. That is great leadership.
Seriously, 5 minutes after I retire, I am leaving Illinois.
2.2 million people voted for JB. That means he has a mandate to crush the other 1.7 million people that didn’t vote for him.
Hey, that’s what “democracy” is all about
Yes, democracy is mob rule. Bring back the pledge of allegiance! “And to the republic. . .”
Apparently, Fat Assed Hog Jowls reads this as he has downvoted everything !!!
Looking at this data only reinforces what most WP readers already know: Pritzker and the Democrats main focus the last few years has been to further feather the beds of public employee unions and help carry water for Biden, and that’s pretty much it.
Meanwhile, the Great Resorting continues.
Illinois and its neighbors are performing poorly compared to most sections of the country. That is useful information for those ready to leave Illinois. Probably better to consider farther away than a neighboring state. Someday, the Midwest might again be considered a desirable location, but it won’t happen for decades. When I made my move, no midwest states were on my list. Also, watch out for all that hidden pension debt. Illinois isn’t the only state with unaffordable long-term commitments. (That’s what kept Kentucky off my list.)
Already looking for land/property way far from Illinois….
Focus on Carolinas, Tennessee, Florida (if you like really hot). They were top of my list.
This can’t be true, the Tribune, SunTimes, Crains, NBC, CBS, ABC all told me the economy is strong, almost full employment and growing under Pritzker.
The only thing growing is Pritzger